National Republican., 1887-03-09
fructify and grow until they form the one
immortality worthy Of great mans serious
consideration.
Alexandria, virginia.

those Of the capital city are as closely
interviewer as though bridge instead OF q
ferry boat connected them, and the Ma
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN proposes to treat the
two places as one in all respects, save CO.
terminous position, and even that may not
be very distant.
The city Of Washington itself offers great
advantages for variety of the lighter
classes OF manufacturing and as a great
center of trade, while Its suburbs, includ-
ing Alexandria, are unsurpassed as situa-
tions for all kinds and classes Of industries
requiring the labor OF skilled artisans. In
fact, the site was chosen because It COM
binod all the advantages Of location, elm
ate, and facilities for these objects.
The capital city instead of remaining the
political center Of the nation is destined In
the near future TO become its literary CEN
ter--the home OF culture, art, and wealth.
These viii give It a splendor of its own un-
surpassed by any city Of ancient or modern
times, while It's suburbs can be made the
home Of industrious thousands, adding to
this wealth and splendor. The sagacious
father Of his country was not at fault when
he selected the site Of the old District OF
Columbia as one possessing great ad.
vantages as o commercial and manufactur-
Ing center, and these natural advantages
have been largely added to by artificial
means.
Situated In the center OF most fertile
region, producing corn, wheat, tobacco,
fruits, and vegetables Of all kinds, Alexan.
dria was once one OF the largest shipping
ports Of the country, and though 1t can
never regain its position In that respect, It
can rise to high rank us manufacturing
center, and more particularly as the ship
yard of the nation.
The trail of the serpent which crushed
its growth and energies, the curse Of
slavery, has been removed, and the ancient
city can be reviYiiied and have growth as
| marvellous as that Of some of the new cities
| Of the great northwest. The opportunity
| is offered it II the citizens do not stand in
the pathway Of progress and drive back
| the advancing cohorts Of industry.
Secure, as 1t can easily be made, from the
attacks Of foreign navy, Alexandria, with
its channel of forty feet to the sea. offers
unusual inducement to the shipbuilders OF
the country, as is proven by the action OF
the Arrow Steamship Company In selecting
1t as the proper location for their ship yard.
| Wood having become almost obsolete as
material for shipbuilding, the builder now
seeks that protected position, where he can
secure transportation at low rates for steel,
iron, and coal. Alexandria has all these
advantages, being connected by direct
lines with the iron and coal fields Of Penn
sylvania over two routes, with those oi
Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee by
two or three lines, and with the new fields
of the south by the Richmond and Danvillt
system.
To these natural and artificial advantages
are added a salubrious and mild climate
where outdoor work can be done at all
seasons OF the year, an abundant supply
of food, produced in the immediate vicinity
at the very lowest prices, cheap ground for
the homes Of the artisans and workmen,
and these added make Alexandria a most
desirable place for the coming shipbuilder
But the industries of Alexandria should
not be confined to shipbuilding; tobacco
is one Of the staple productions Of tht
country around and for many miles soutl
and west of Alexandria, all connected will
II by rail, and no point in the country offer
70 great advantages for the manufacture o
tobacco, and that business is known to b.
one Of the best paying investments in thi
or any other country.
Fruit and vegetables, such as are used 70
canning, are now grown in great plenty, ant
thousands of dollars worth thrown ava,
every year for want Of market, withil
easy distances of Alexandria, and II canning
establishments were started any deman
for these articles could readily be supplied
In fact, few such establishments woul
not only build up the city, but would max
aksgarden Of the country surrounding II
with every foot Of the soil utilized.
Grapes capable of being manufacture
into wines Of the best quality are grown
II market could be found In q win
mandatory every farmer in the countr
would produce them, and both banks G
the Potomac, for miles in either direction
would be turned into vineyards.
Virginia wheat is unsurpassed, and noul
ing mills, such as are the boast Of Mime
apolis, should be found, not only at Alex
andria, but at Great Falls, another subur
! of Washington, where water power suf
I flcient to drive thousand mills is allowe
to go to waste, when 1t should be used /
turning Virginia wheat into -four, the velr
able woods OF Virginia, West Virginia, an
Tennessee into furniture, or polishing tn
stone and marble now lying unmined in til
quarries.
Northern capital can find no better II
vestment than In the establishment OF sue
industries as we have suggested in the sui
urbs of Washington city. Every possibl
Inducements is offered. Unsurpassed loct
tion, the best of transportation facilities,
healthy climate, cheap lands, the advantae
OF residence at the capital are all combined
and when to those are added low taxation
as In Alexandria, which exempts from ta1
alton for ten years all capital invested
manufacturing, nothing more could
asked.
And then what more beautiful count
for the homes Of the wealthy can be fouu
than the banks of the Potomac river. Fro
Washington to the sea the shores Of th
beautiful stream should be lined vii
, houses, built not like the castles of h
robher barons of the Rhine for purpose
oppression, but as the homes OF the refine
and cultured citizens Of this great republ
clustering round the capital of the natio
. and making 1t the queen city Of the worl
nho unaxnactad AInava uannana